Database Search

Website Login

What's the login for?

What’s the login for?

The login is used so that members can gain access to discounts and extra information stored online. Non-members can register a new account (during the check-out process) to purchase transcripts and research services online. Look for the membership links in the menu, above.

The default name setting is for an exact search. An exact search should be tried first, but a much wider search is available by deleting the tick next to the surname box. Specifying a date range for your search can speed the search process. The indexes for Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates have date restrictions due to government regulation. Read the story of the Genealogy SA BDM Certificates.

We know the database search boxes are very limited, and are a result of a decision taken more than two years ago. Plans are in hand for a radical upgrade of this search model, and we are aiming for the next version to be on-line early in 2015.

Great! A Result! Is there any more?

If your search narrows down to a person of interest, remember that you have only searched an index. An index is usually an extract taken from a more detailed source document. If you get a result from our index and you want more details, order a source document transcription or lookup, which you can do online through this website. Please note that the Transcription or Lookup requires human intervention, so it can take our volunteers a week or two to complete the work.

No! Didn't find a thing?

Well don't quit yet! If you are certain your missing relative should be in South Australian records, try varying your search criteria. Indexes sometimes have spelling or other errors, often reflecting an error in the original document. Untick the 'exact matches' box and look for different spellings, places or time periods.

People often contact us about errors they believe they have found. The Society will receive advice of suspected errors, and we may be able to correct index errors in the future, where we can access the original source document. Please send error reports to the webmaster or our research co-ordinator.

Be persistent and try different ways of searching. If your efforts don't help your research, or you still face a brick wall, you could always consider a Genealogy SAResearch Request.